Patents by Inventor Michal-Wolfgang Waszak

Michal-Wolfgang Waszak has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20100187031
    Abstract: A system and method for a propulsion system includes an electric motor and an energy storage unit configured to supply a primary power to the electric motor. The propulsion system also includes a plurality of auxiliary power units (APUs) configured to supply a secondary power to at least one of the electric motor and the energy storage unit. Each of the plurality of APUs includes a free-piston engine configured to generate a mechanical output, a linear generator configured to transform the mechanical output to an electrical power, and a controller. The controller receives a power command from the electric motor and/or the energy storage unit, determines an amount of secondary power needed to meet the power command, and selectively activates a number of the plurality of APUs to generate the needed amount of secondary power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventors: Michal-Wolfgang Waszak, Parag Vyas, Jan Hemmelmann, Robert Dean King
  • Publication number: 20100079016
    Abstract: A magnetically geared machine having an integrated cooling concept is provided. The machine includes a rotor having an inner surface and an outer surface, a magnet assembly coupled to one of the inner or outer surfaces of the rotor, and a stator having a plurality of stator windings. The machine further includes a magnetic flux modulator interposed between the rotor and the plurality of stator windings, where the flux modulator includes a plurality of magnetically conductive portions and a plurality of non-magnetically conductive portions placed alternately, where one or more of the plurality of non-magnetically conductive portions comprise a channel for a cooling fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jan Erich Hemmelmann, Michal-Wolfgang Waszak
  • Publication number: 20100052323
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetically geared generator including an inner winding unit having a first number of pole pairs, an outer winding unit arranged coaxially around the inner winding unit and having a second number of pole pairs, and a rotatable magnetic flux modulator arranged coaxially between the inner winding unit and the outer winding unit. The inner winding unit, the outer winding unit and the rotatable magnetic flux modulator are adapted to convert rotational input energy provided at the rotatable magnetic flux modulator into electrical output energy provided as an alternating output current at one of the inner winding unit and the outer winding unit, and to control an output frequency of the alternating output current by communicating output energy as an alternating feedback current to the other one of the inner winding unit and the outer winding unit and by adjusting a feedback frequency of the alternating feedback current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Parag Vyas, Michal-Wolfgang Waszak
  • Publication number: 20090250644
    Abstract: A machine includes a piston disposed in a housing and configured to reciprocate in the housing. At least one valve is coupled to the housing. A magnetically-geared valve actuation system is coupled to the at least one valve. A plurality of sensors is configured to detect a plurality of parameters related to the machine. A control system is coupled to the plurality of sensors and the magnetically-geared valve actuation system. The magnetically-geared valve actuation system is configured to actuate the at least one valve in response to reciprocation of the piston in the housing, signals originating from the sensors or control system, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Herbert Kopecek, Michal-Wolfgang Waszak
  • Publication number: 20090079191
    Abstract: A power generation system includes: a prime mover; an electrical machine coupled to the prime mover and configured for converting mechanical power to electrical power, the electrical machine having a power factor of less than or equal to 0.7; a reactive power supply assembly coupled to the electrical machine and configured to supply reactive power to the electrical machine; and a power electronic converter coupled to the reactive power supply assembly and configured for transferring power from the electrical machine to a grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Jorge Mari, Michal-Wolfgang Waszak, Simon Schramm
  • Publication number: 20080149445
    Abstract: A system for transferring torque between a pair of independently, concurrently rotating shafts of a turbofan engine includes a magnetic gearbox. The magnetic gearbox has a first ring structure, a second ring structure and an intermediate ring structure. Each ring structure has an annular aperture therethrough and a plurality of permanent magnets embedded therein. The intermediate ring structure is disposed between the first and the second ring structures. Each ring structure is coaxially concentric with, and independently rotatable with respect to the remaining ring structures. The first and second ring structures are each coupled to separate ones of the rotating engine shafts, and the intermediate ring is operable to transfer torque between the pair of shafts. Preferably, the intermediate ring structure is coupled to a rotating machine. The rotating machine has a controller, and is operable for adjusting a ratio of torque transferred between the pair of shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: John M. Kern, Juan M. De Bedout, Kiyoung Chung, Michal-Wolfgang Waszak, Manoj R. Shah, Peter D. Toot, Ronhai Qu, Wei Wu
  • Publication number: 20070186692
    Abstract: An electrical machine apparatus having magnetic gearing embedded therein includes a moveable rotor having a first magnetic field associated therewith, a stator configured with a plurality of stationary stator windings therein, and a magnetic flux modulator interposed between the moveable rotor and the stator windings. The magnetic flux modulator is configured to transmit torque between the first magnetic field associated with said moveable rotor and a second magnetic field excited by the plurality of stationary stator windings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Michal-Wolfgang Waszak, Jan Hemmelmann, Ronghai Qu, Patrick Jansen